NEW
ABOVE AVERAGE
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness
New on HBO: Very uneven, with some thin sketches mostly relying on Larry David screaming a lot, but others were clever, timely and funny
New on Netflix: The script adds unimaginative monsters and too many ideas that we find hard to believe, especially near the end
New on Netflix: Director Karin af Klintberg takes us along for a slick, very entertaining and enlightening ride
RECENT
Much of it is unavoidably funny at times, but the pain is always there
Amanda Seyfried is outstanding in the lead
Far too many scenes come across as artificially staged, poses rather than moments that are genuinely gripping
OLDER
Premiered in 1961: Lots of fighting in a film that is technically elaborate, with on-location splendor in Spain and a rousing score
Premiered in 1961: Long, but summery, sweet and well paced
Premiered in 2024: A gripping, human study of dreams and loneliness, complete with a hilarious Flashdance talk
LONGER REVIEWS
ABOVE AVERAGE
Originally shown in 2022-2026: A sharp, fast and action-filled account of everything that could go wrong on opening night
New in Global Theaters: Dark and brooding like so many other films by this director, but capable of stirring emotions and delivering great thrills at the same time
Premiered in 1943: Its short running time is an example of filmmakers knowing exactly what to do in very little time